Fuel oil heater and safety means therefor



July 26, 1955 H. F. YULA 2,714,139

FUEL OIL HEATER AND SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 7, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOFZ I MFMPYA' 7M4 ATTORN EYS July 26, 1955 H. F. YULA 2,714,139

FUEL OIL HEATER AND SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 7, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 i A 5 W F f w MW wm E m [H i 1 I y Y Q gn n i Ma B mm. 1| 1 h WM. V M -Il IF 4 I Q Q wwlilvn km {1 Q 32 E mm A a m w m H fi 80 \m% I 1% mark E Q P 7 m \h@ \ln MM. Nm E EL E a Q E July 26, 1955 H- YULA 2,714,139

FUEL OIL HEATER AND SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aug. '7, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN T 0R. A E/V/E Y E V444,?

United States Patent Ofiice 2,714,i3 Patented July 26, 1955 FUEL fill. HEATER AND THEREFO Henry F. hula, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Yula Water Heaters, Inc, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 7, 1952, Serial No. 303,135

6 Claims. (Cl. 200-61.05)

SAFETY MEANS R This invention relates to a fuel oil heater in which steam is utilized as the circulating medium for preheating the fuel oil as the same flows to the burner of a furnace or boiler.

An object of the invention is to provide a fuel oil heater which assures safety of operation, prevents damportion of the electrical circuit with the motor of the .3

fuel oil pump and which portion of the circuit will be broken in the event of fuel oil leaking from circulating pipes in the heater so as to discontinue operation of the motor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker in circuit with the motor driven pump which has terminals normally immersed in the condensate of the circulating medium and which are adapted to be disconnected by fuel oil displacing the condensate between the terminals in the event of a leakage occurring in the fuel oil circulating pipes in the heater.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a fuel oil heater and discharge pipe line and associated condensate receiving receptacles constructed in accordance with the invention with the heater shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of an electrical circuit including a circuit breaker shown in position in the lowermost condensate receiving receptacle.

Fig. 4 is a View in elevation of a modified form of fuel oil heater and with a discharge pipe line for connection with a receptacle constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through one of the tubes and showing a fragmentary portion of the heater.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the fuel oil heater is of the type adapted to be connected with a steam boiler (not shown) by means of a pipe line 10 for delivering steam to the shell 11 for heating the fuel oil circulating in the tubes 12 therein. The 1 steam in the form of condensate is returned to the steam boiler by a return pipe line indicated generally by the reference character 13 which is connected with the shell 11 through a bottom outlet 14.

The shell 11 is closed at its ends by heads 15 and 16 and is provided with tube sheets 17 and 18 located in spaced relation to the heads 15 and 16 and which are welded or otherwise secured at their peripheries to the inside face of the shell 11 so as to provide chambers at the ends of the shell between the tube sheets and the heads thereof. The tube sheets 17 and 18 are apertured to receive any desired number of tubes 12. As illustrated, twelve tubes are provided for circulating the fuel oil from the inlet chamber 20 at the forward end of the shell to the chamber 21 at the opposite end thereof and twelve tubes are provided for circulating the fuel oil from the chamber 21 to the outlet chamber 22 at the forward end of the shell, which latter chamber is separated from the chamber 20 by means of a transversely extend ing wall 23 which is welded or otherwise secured to the head 15, tube sheet 17, and the inner face of the shell 11. The fuel oil under pressure from a motor-driven pump P is pumped to the inlet chamber 20 through a pipe line 24, the pump P being connected with a fuel oil storage tank (not shown). The fuel oil after passing through the tubes 12 in the shell 11 flows by the pump pressure to the burner (not shown) of the steam boiler by a pipe line 25 connected with the chamber 22.

The return pipe line 13 includes means for collecting the condensate of the steam and for exhausting air and vapor to the atmosphere. This is accomplished by means of a steam trap 27 which is located below the shell 11 and connected by an inlet pipe 28 and an outlet pipe 29 so as to form a loop with the pipe line portion 30 whereby the condensate will collect in the trap 27 and vapor and air will by-pass the trap by means of the pipe line portion 30. A flash tank 31 is also provided which is connected adjacent the top with the return pipe line 13 and which tank has a vent pipe 32 opening to the atmosphere to permit of the escape of air and vapor. The flash tank 31 is large enough to sufficiently chill any steam entering the tank so that the steam will condense therein and provide a head of water for maintaining a tank 33 in filled condition with the terminals of a circuit breaker indicated generally by the reference character 34 normally closed by the water so as to establish an electrical circuit with the motor M of the motor driven pump P. The tank 33 is adapted for collecting fuel oil which leaks in the tubes 12 and densate so as to gravitate may escape from ruptures or become entrained with the contherewith and mingle with the condensate in the tank 33. The fuel oil being lighter than the condensate will float to the top and displace the water bridging the terminals of the circuit breaker 34 whereby the electrical circuit with the motor M will be interrupted and the pump P will discontinue pumping fuel oil to the heater.

The circuit breaker is mounted in a housing 36 having a threaded lower end 37 which is threadedly secured in the upper end of a tubular fitting 38 opening into the tank and welded or otherwise secured as at 3? to the top wall of the tank. The circuit breaker 34 is provided with a central metallic stud 40 to which is aflixed an electrical terminal 41 located substantially centrally within the tubular fitting 38 and forming one of the terminals thereof. The circuit breaker 34 is insulated from the housing 36 and is arranged in the secondary circuit of a step-up transformer 43 by conductor wires 44 and 45' connected with the secondary coil 46 thereof, the conductor wire 4' being in circuit with the terminal 41 through the circuit breaker while the conductor wire 45 is grounded to the housing 36 as at 47 whereby the tubular fitting 38 forms the other terminal of the circuit breaker. The conductor wire 45 is also connected with the coil of a relay 4? having an armature 49 which is attracted by the core of the relay to connect with the conductor wires 50 and 51 leading to the motor M of the fuel oil pump P whereby the fuel oil pump is in operation to pump fuel oil through the fuel oil heater and to the burner when the secondary circuit is closed. If, however, the secondary circuit is opened the armature 49 will be moved by the spring 53 to break the circuit with the motor M to thereby discontinue operation of the motor M and pump P. The primary coil 54 of the transformer 43 is connected with a source of current supply by the conductor wires 55 and 56 and the armature 49 is connected with the conductor wires 55 and 56 by conductor wires 57 and 58 respectively. A pilot light 59 is in circuit through the conductor wire 58 and an alarm or bell 6t) and switch 61 are arranged in parallel with the light 59 by the conductor wire 62.. An electric light 62 and switch 63 is interposed in the primary circuit between the conductor wires 55 and 56.

The condensate in the tank 33 is normally at the level indicated as at 65 so as to bridge the circuit between the terminals 38 and 41 to thereby close the secondary circuit and place the motor M and pump P in operation when the condensate is at the level indicated. In the event of fuel oil becoming entrained with the condensate, the oil will rise to the top in the tank 33 and will displace the condensate between the terminals 38 and 41 to thereby break the secondary circuit and the relay will function to break the circuit through the conductor wires 50 and 51 with the motor M to discontinue operation of the motor M and pump P. When this takes place, the light 59 is lighted and the alarm is sounded to thereby indicate that the secondary circuit of the transformer has been broken.

The return line 13 also includes a pipe bend 67, one leg of which is connected with the fitting 38 below the condensate level and the other leg extends downwardly through the top wall of the tank 33 with the open lower end thereof located adjacent the bottom of the tank. A pipe 68 branches from the pipe bend 67 sufficiently above the level 65 to normally provide a head of water in the legs of the bend so as to maintain the level 65. As the condensate flows through the tank 33 the same flows from the pipe bend 67 and thence through the pipe 68 which is connected with the boiler, a receiving tank (not shown) or to a waste, the condensate being free from fuel oil as any fuel oil escaping from the tubes 12 will be separated in the tank 33.

It will be understood that the trap 27, the flash tank 31 and the oil separator tank 33 are arranged at successive lower levels so that the condensate will drain by gravity from the shell 11 through the tank 33. A water supply line 70 is connected with the tank 33 for initially filling the tank with water, the water supply line having a valve 71 for closing 01f the supply line when the tank is filled.

The invention is also applicable to a fuel oil heater of the type in which the fuel oil is heated by steam flowing through pipes as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive of the drawings. In this form of fuel oil heater the fuel oil is admitted to the shell 75 by means of the pipe line 24 as in the previously described form of fuel oil heater and which opens into the top of the shell and is connected with a pump such as the motor driven pump P. The oil is discharged from the heater by means of the pipe line 25 as in the previous form, but which in this construction of heater is connected with the head 78 thereof. The shell 75 is closed at the forward end by a head 79 and connected with the head are inner and outer tube sheets 80 and 81 arranged in spaced relation and forming a chamber 82 in which the condensate of the steam is collected. The tube sheet 81 is secured by bolts 83 between the head 79 and a ring 84 welded or otherwise affixed to the forward end of the shell 78 While the tube sheet 80 is secured to the head 79 by bolts 85. Th forward end of the head 79 is of dome-shaped formation to provide a steam inlet chamber between the same and the tube sheet 80. Aflixed to the tube sheet 80 are a plurality of tubes 87 which extend inwardly through openings in the tube sheet 81 and are secured at their inner ends as at 88 to concentric tubes 89 of somewhat larger diameter so as to space the tubes 87 from the wall of the tubes 89. The tubes 89 are secured to the tube sheet 81 at their forward ends and the tubes 87 are provided at their inner ends with a plurality of openings 99 to permit of the flow of steam from the inner tubes 87 to the surrounding tubes 89.

The head 79 is provided with an opening 91 for admitting steam to the inlet chamber 86. As in the previous form of the invention the pipe line It supplies steam to the heater and is connected with the inlet opening 91 thereof. The head 79 is also provided with an outlet opening 93 for discharge of the condensate from the chamber 82. The pipe line 13 as in the previous form conducts the condensate to the tank 33 and any fuel oil entering the tubes 89 through ruptures or breaks therein will be entrained with the condensate and will flow with the condensate to the tank 33 so as to displace the condensate between the terminals 38 and 4 1 to thereby break the secondary circuit and discontinue opera tion of the motor M and pump P. The switches 61, 63 and 64 are closed when the heater is in operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, a fuel oil heater having walls confining the separate flow of fuel oil and steam therethrough for heating the fuel oil, a discharge pipe line connected with the heater for carrying off the condensate of the steam, a tank arranged in said pipe line below said fuel oil heater for collecting the condensate, a circuit breaker carried by said tank having spaced electrical terminals normally closed through the condensate in said tank and being adapted to be opened by fuel oil leaking through breaks in the walls of said heater flowing with the condensate and displacing the condensate between said terminals.

2. In a device of the character described, a fuel oil heater having walls confining the separate flow of fuel oil and steam therethrough for heating the fuel oil, a discharge pipe line connected with the under side of said heater for carrying 013? the condensate of the steam, a tank arranged in said pipe line for collecting the condensate and having an air vent, a second tank in said pipe line arranged at a lower level than the said first mentioned tank and adapted to be filled by condensate flowing from the said first mentioned tank, a circuit breaker carried by said last mentioned tank having spaced electrical terminals normally closed through the condensate in said tank and being adapted to be opened by fuel oil leaking through a break in the walls in said heater flowing with the condensate and displacing the condensate between said terminals.

3. In a device of the character described, a fuel oil heater having tubes for circulating fuel oil therethrough, said heater having an inlet for receiving steam for heating the fuel oil circulating in said tubes, a discharge pipe line connected with the under side of said heater for carrying off the condensate of the steam, a tank arranged in said pipe line below said fuel oil heater for collecting the condensate, a circuit breaker carried by said tank having spaced electrical terminals normally closed through the condensate in said tank and being adapted to be opened by fuel oil leaking from the tubes in said heater flowing with the condensate and displacing the condensate between said terminals.

4. In a device of the character described, a fuel oil heater having tubes for circulating fuel oil therethrough, said heater having an inlet for receiving steam for heating the fuel oil circulating in said tubes, a discharge pipe line connected with the under side of said heater for carrying off the condensate of the steam, a tank arranged in said pipe line for collecting the condensate, a circuit breaker carried by said tank having spaced electrical terminals normally closed through the condensate in said tank and being adapted to be opened by fuel oil leaking from the tubes in said heater flowing with the condensate and displacing the condensate between said terminals, a pipe bend connected with said tank below the level of the condensate in the tank and extending above the tank with a downwardly directed leg opening into the tank below the level of the condensate therein, and a carry-oh. pipe line connected with the bend above the level of the condensate in the tank.

5. In a device of the character described, a fuel oil heater having tubes for circulating fuel oil therethrough, said heater having an inlet for receiving steam for heating the fuel oil circulating in said tubes, at discharge pipe line connected with the under side of said heater for can rying oh the condensate of the steam, a tank arranged in said pipe line below said fuel oil heater for collecting the condensate, a tubular extension connected with the tank at the top thereof, a circuit breaker located in said extension having spaced electrical terminals normally closed through the condensate in said extension and being adapted to be opened by fuel oil leaking from the tubes in said heater flowing with the condensate and displacing the condensate between said terminals 6. In a device of the character described, a fuel 03 heater having tubes for circulating fuel oil therethrough, said heater having an inlet for receiving steam for heating the fuel oil circulating in said tubes, a discharge pipe line connected with the under side of said heater for carrying off the condensate of the steam, a tank arranged in said pipe line for collecting the condensate, a tubular extension connected with the tank at the top thereof, a circuit breaker located in said extension having spaced electrical terminals normally closed through the condensate in said extension and being adapted to be opened by fuel oil leaking from the tubes in said heater flowing with the condensate and displacing the condensate between said terminals, a pipe bend connected with said extension below the level of the condensate therein and extending above the tank with the downwardly directed leg opening into the tank below the level of the condensate, and a carry-off pipe line connected with the bend above the level of the condensate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,288,058 Leblanc Dec. 17, 1918 1,346,898 Kingsbury July 20, 1920 1,639,064 Strait Aug. 16, 1927 2,360,408 Dunn et al Oct. 17, 1944 2,376,694 Hewlett May 22, 1945 2,610,267 Yula et al Sept. 9, 1952 

